US9476570B2 - Lens with controlled backlight management - Google Patents

Lens with controlled backlight management Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US9476570B2
US9476570B2 US13/735,701 US201313735701A US9476570B2 US 9476570 B2 US9476570 B2 US 9476570B2 US 201313735701 A US201313735701 A US 201313735701A US 9476570 B2 US9476570 B2 US 9476570B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
emitter
lens
light
refracting
sector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US13/735,701
Other versions
US20140022797A1 (en
Inventor
Kurt S. Wilcox
Christopher Strom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cree Lighting USA LLC
Original Assignee
Cree Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
US case filed in International Trade Commission litigation Critical https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/International%20Trade%20Commission/case/337-TA-1213 Source: International Trade Commission Jurisdiction: International Trade Commission "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
US case filed in Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit litigation https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Court%20of%20Appeals%20for%20the%20Federal%20Circuit/case/2022-1501 Source: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Jurisdiction: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
US case filed in Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit litigation https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Court%20of%20Appeals%20for%20the%20Federal%20Circuit/case/2022-1484 Source: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Jurisdiction: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=43220008&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US9476570(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from US12/173,721 external-priority patent/US8388193B2/en
Priority to US13/735,701 priority Critical patent/US9476570B2/en
Application filed by Cree Inc filed Critical Cree Inc
Assigned to CREE, INC. reassignment CREE, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: STROM, CHRISTOPHER, WILCOX, KURT S.
Publication of US20140022797A1 publication Critical patent/US20140022797A1/en
Priority to US14/747,586 priority patent/US9488339B2/en
Publication of US9476570B2 publication Critical patent/US9476570B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Assigned to IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC reassignment IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CREE, INC.
Assigned to FGI WORLDWIDE LLC reassignment FGI WORLDWIDE LLC SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V13/00Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
    • F21V13/02Combinations of only two kinds of elements
    • F21V13/04Combinations of only two kinds of elements the elements being reflectors and refractors
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V13/00Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
    • F21V13/02Combinations of only two kinds of elements
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/008Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/04Refractors for light sources of lens shape
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/08Refractors for light sources producing an asymmetric light distribution
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V7/00Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0091Reflectors for light sources using total internal reflection
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B19/00Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics
    • G02B19/0004Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics characterised by the optical means employed
    • G02B19/0028Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics characterised by the optical means employed refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B19/00Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics
    • G02B19/0033Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics characterised by the use
    • G02B19/0047Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics characterised by the use for use with a light source
    • G02B19/0061Condensers, e.g. light collectors or similar non-imaging optics characterised by the use for use with a light source the light source comprising a LED
    • F21Y2101/02
    • F21Y2105/001
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21YINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2105/00Planar light sources
    • F21Y2105/10Planar light sources comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21YINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to LED lighting fixtures for various common illumination purposes. Still more specifically, this invention relates to the field of lensing for desired LED light distribution in LED lighting fixtures.
  • LEDs light-emitting diodes
  • LED modules LED-array bearing devices
  • LED-lighting fixtures typically provide less than desirable and less than fully efficient illumination patterns.
  • Some prior lenses have been configured to prevent undesirable light from exiting the lens and others to block such light immediately upon its exiting the lens. Even though these configurations were deemed necessary to achieve desired illumination patterns and to prevent so-called lighting “trespass,” they tended to result in lost light and decreased efficiency of LED illuminators. It would be highly desirable to improve efficiency of the use of light emitted by LEDs in lighting fixtures.
  • a typical LED emits light over a wide range of angles such that light from the LED reaches a particular area of the output surface of the lens at somewhat different angles. This has made it very difficult to control refraction of such light. As a result, only a portion of light being refracted is refracted in a desired direction, while the reminder exits the lens with very little control. It would be desirable to provide improved control of the direction of light exiting such lenses.
  • Trespass lighting can be evaluated by more than just the amount of light emitted in an undesed direction; also to be considered is how far from the desired direction such light is directed. It would be highly beneficial to provide a lighting apparatus which produces a desired illumination pattern with a maximum amount of light emitted toward the space intended to be illuminated, in typical commercial applications.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an LED lens with improved light-output efficiency for a variety of particular uses.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an LED lens with improved control of the direction of light exiting the lens.
  • This invention is a lens with improved efficiency of distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter such as an LED package having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane. It is preferred that the light emitter is the LED package which is free of a surrounding reflective surface.
  • a light emitter such as an LED package having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane.
  • the light emitter is the LED package which is free of a surrounding reflective surface.
  • Such improved efficiency of light output from the light emitter is achieved with the inventive lens which is specifically designed for refraction and useful output of light emitted in directions opposite to the desired illumination direction.
  • the inventive lens directs the great majority of light from the emitter in the preferential-side direction, including light emitted at angles which previously resulted in the loss of such light. Such efficiency of light use is provided without use of separate reflectors—that is, on a lens-only basis.
  • the inventive lens has an emitter-adjacent base end which forms an emitter-receiving opening to an emitter-surrounding cavity defined by an inner surface.
  • the inner surface includes a front sector centered on the preferential side and a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side.
  • the front sector has a first configuration for refracting light from the emitter.
  • the back sector has a second configuration for refracting light from the emitter. It is highly preferred that the second configuration differs from the first configuration.
  • the lens also includes an axially-offset primary back surface positioned to receive light from at least a portion of the inner-surface back sector and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof. Light from the primary back surface is directed toward the preferential side.
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • toward means that, after refraction or TIR such light moves closer to the indicated direction even if still diverging from the indicated direction.
  • toward the preferential side means that, if after refraction or TIR the light still moves in the non-preferential direction, it does so at an angle closer (than prior to the refraction or TIR) to the particular axial plane which distinguishes the preferential side from the non-preferential side.
  • the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane.
  • elliptical as used herein with respect to cross-sections of a surface in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane, means that such cross-sections are portions of ellipses.
  • wide side as used with respect to an ellipse, means a side which faces the major axis of the ellipse.
  • each cross-section be symmetrical about its midpoint, and that it be centered on the plane extending from the center of the non-preferential side to the center of the preferential side.
  • the distances from each elliptical cross-section to the emitter axis increase at positions away from such s these cross-sections extend away from the plane extending from the center of the non-preferential side to the center of the preferential side.
  • Such configuration allows wide-angle distribution of emitter light to the preferential side.
  • the cross-sections of the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface have shorter radii of curvature, narrower and farther patterns of light distribution toward the preferential side are achieved.
  • the front sector preferably extends about the emitter axis along an arc that is greater than the arc along which the back sector extends.
  • the back-sector arc is about half the front-sector arc.
  • the lens of substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane including the emitter axis.
  • the emitter-adjacent base end preferably forms a back opening to a back cavity substantially centered on the non-preferential side and partially bounded by the primary back surface.
  • the primary back surface transitions from near the inner-surface back sector at the emitter plane away from the emitter axis to terminate at a position distal from the base end. It is preferred that the back cavity is further bounded by an axially-remote secondary back surface and an end surface.
  • the incidental light that enters the back cavity is preferably dispersed by the secondary back surface.
  • the end surface extends from the primary back surface to the secondary back surface.
  • the secondary back surface extends from the end surface to the base end and preferably has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
  • the inner-surface back sector preferably includes an intermediate back zone configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward the primary back surface for TIR thereof toward the preferential side.
  • the inner-surface back sector also includes an axially-adjacent back zone.
  • the axially-adjacent back zone is configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane and joins the intermediate back zone by transitioning from the emitter axis away from the emitter plane.
  • the axially-adjacent back zone is preferably substantially cross-sectionally convex.
  • the intermediate back zone includes a first intermediate back section extending away from the emitter axis.
  • the intermediate back zone further preferably includes second and third intermediate sections.
  • the second intermediate back section preferably extends from the first intermediate back section to the axially-adjacent back zone.
  • the third intermediate back section preferably transitions from the first intermediate back section toward the emitter plane and is configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane with progressively lesser refraction at positions progressively closer to the emitter plane.
  • the second and third intermediate back sections extend substantially orthogonally to the emitter plane and have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
  • the term “toward the emitter plane” means that after being refracted the light moves at smaller angles with respect to the emitter plane than prior to the refraction.
  • the term “away from the emitter plane” means that after being refracted the light moves at greater angles with respect to the emitter plane than prior to the refraction.
  • the inventive lens further includes an outer surface configured for refracting emitter light in predominantly off-axis directions toward the preferential side.
  • the outer surface has front and back output regions.
  • the back output region is configured for refracting a preponderance of light received from the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface toward the preferential side.
  • the back output region is further configured for receiving at least a portion of light from the first intermediate back surface and distributing it toward useful illumination of the non-preferential side.
  • the inner-surface front sector includes a first, second and middle front regions.
  • the first front region is adjacent to the emitter axis and is preferably configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane.
  • the second front region is spaced from the first front region and is preferably configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane.
  • the middle front region joins and is substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to the first and second front regions. It is preferred that the middle front region is positioned with respect to the emitter to refract light toward the emitter plane by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to the second front region.
  • the front output region of the outer surface is configured for refracting light from the inner-surface front sector such that at the outer surface light from each front region is refracted substantially without overlapping light from other front regions.
  • the second front region preferably terminates before reaching the emitter plane.
  • the inner-surface front sector further preferably includes a base-adjacent front region which extends from the second front region and is configured such that the light emitted between the second front region and the emitter plane passes through the base-adjacent front region substantially free of refraction.
  • the preferred embodiments of the inventive lens further include a peripheral front surface positioned to receive light from the base-adjacent front region and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward the outer surface.
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • the emitter-adjacent base end preferably forms a front opening to a front cavity centered on the preferential side and partially bounded by the peripheral front surface.
  • the inventive lens in its preferred embodiments, is capable of directing 10% more of the total emitted light toward the preferential side than with prior lenses designed for preferential-side distribution. In such preferred embodiments, the inventive lens effectively utilizes as much as 90% of the emitter light for achieving useful illumination.
  • FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the inventive lens.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional non-transparent perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing configurations of inner, back and front cavities as well as the outer surface.
  • FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the lens of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragment of the top view of the lens of FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7-9 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter axis.
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional front view of the lens of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged back view of the lens of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing refraction of the emitter light.
  • FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing refraction of the emitter light by the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
  • FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
  • FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing refraction of the emitter light by the inner-cavity front-sector regions and a peripheral front surface.
  • FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of emitter light refracted as in FIG. 15 by outer-surface front output region.
  • FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective top plan view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
  • FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective front top view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective side view from above of the lens of FIG. 1 showing a fragmental light trace and an illumination plot identifying position of this fragment of light thereon.
  • FIG. 20 is another enlarged fragmentary perspective side view from above of the lens of FIG. 1 showing a fragmental light trace and an illumination plot identifying position of this fragment of light thereon.
  • FIGS. 1-20 illustrate lens 10 which is a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Lens 10 is for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side 5 from a light emitter 1 which has an emitter axis 2 and defines an emitter plane 3 .
  • light emitter 1 is an LED package which is free of a surrounding reflective surface.
  • Lens 10 has an emitter-adjacent base end 11 which forms an emitter-receiving opening 12 to an emitter-surrounding cavity 13 defined by an inner surface 14 .
  • Cavity 13 defines a space between emitter 1 and an inner-cavity surface 14 such that emitter light goes through air to enter lens material at inner-cavity surface 14 . Because air and the lens material, which may be acrylic or other suitable material, have different refraction indexes, this results in bending of the light at inner-cavity surface 14 .
  • Inner surface 14 includes a front sector 20 centered on preferential side 5 and a back sector 30 centered on the non-preferential side 6 which is radially opposite preferential side 5 .
  • front sector 20 has a first configuration for refracting light from emitter 1 .
  • Back sector 30 has a second configuration for refracting light from emitter 1 .
  • the second configuration differs from the first configuration.
  • Lens 10 also includes an axially-offset primary back surface 15 positioned to receive light from at least a portion of inner-surface back sector 30 and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 , light from primary back surface 15 is directed toward preferential side 5 .
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • FIGS. 1 and 5-9 show that inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15 have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3 .
  • FIGS. 7-9 show cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3 at different distances from emitter plane 3 .
  • FIG. 6 further illustrates elliptical curvatures of inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15 .
  • FIG. 6 best shows how these cross-sections extend from their respective points which are along a plane of lens symmetry 4 and are closest to emitter axis 2 away from symmetry plane 4 to positions which are farthest from emitter axis 2 .
  • front sector 20 extends about emitter axis 2 along an arc 24 and that the back sector extends along an arc 31 .
  • Front-sector arc 24 is greater than back-sector arc 31 .
  • FIG. 5 further shows that back-sector arc 31 is about half front-sector arc 24 .
  • lens 10 is bilaterally symmetrical about plane 4 which includes emitter axis 2 .
  • emitter-adjacent base end 11 further forms a back opening 40 to a back cavity 41 substantially centered on non-preferential side 6 and partially bounded by primary back surface 15 .
  • primary back surface 15 transitions from near inner-surface back sector 30 at emitter plane 3 away from emitter axis 2 to terminate at a position distal from base end 11 .
  • FIGS. 1-4 further illustrate that back cavity 41 is further bounded by an axially-remote secondary back surface 42 and an end surface 43 .
  • End surface 43 extends from primary back surface 15 to secondary back surface 42 .
  • Secondary back surface 42 extends from end surface 43 to base end 11 substantially orthogonally to emitter plane 3 and, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6 , has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3 .
  • FIGS. 1-4 best show that the inner-surface back sector 30 includes an intermediate back zone 32 and an axially-adjacent back zone 33 .
  • Axially-adjacent back zone 33 joins intermediate back zone 32 by transitioning from emitter axis 2 away from emitter plane 3 . It is seen that axially-adjacent back zone 33 is substantially cross-sectionally convex.
  • intermediate back zone 32 is configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward primary back surface 15 for TIR thereof toward preferential side 5 .
  • FIGS. 12-14 also show that axially-adjacent back zone 33 is configured for refracting emitter light away from emitter plane 3 .
  • intermediate back zone 32 includes a first intermediate back section 321 extending away from emitter axis 2 , a second intermediate section 322 and a third intermediate section 323 .
  • Second intermediate back section 322 extends from first intermediate back section 321 to axially-adjacent back zone 33 .
  • Third intermediate back section 323 transitions from first intermediate back section 321 toward emitter plane 3 .
  • Second and third intermediate back sections 322 and 323 extend substantially orthogonally to emitter plane 3 .
  • FIGS. 5-9 illustrate that second and third intermediate back sections 322 and 323 each have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3 .
  • third intermediate back section 323 is configured for refracting emitter light toward emitter plane 3 with progressively lesser refraction at positions progressively closer to emitter plane 3 .
  • Inventive lens 10 further includes an outer surface 17 configured for refracting emitter light in predominantly off-axis directions toward preferential side 5 .
  • Outer surface 17 has front and back output regions 18 and 19 .
  • Outer surface 17 extends for a majority of the 180° about emitter axis 2 to provide a large refractive output surface for a wide-angle distribution of emitter light with improved control.
  • FIG. 4 best shows that outer surface 17 extends for about a 150° around emitter axis 2 .
  • FIGS. 12-14 illustrate that back output region 19 is configured for refracting a preponderance of light received from inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15 toward preferential side 5 .
  • Back output region 19 is further configured for receiving at least a portion of light from first intermediate back surface 321 and distributing such light toward useful illumination of non-preferential side 6 .
  • FIG. 16 shows outer-surface front output region 18 including an axis-adjacent first output area 181 , a second output area 182 spaced from axis-adjacent first output area 181 , and a middle output area 183 joining first and second output areas 181 and 182 .
  • Outer-surface front output region 18 further includes a base-adjacent outer-surface area 184 which extends from second output area 182 and is substantially free from receiving any emitter light.
  • Base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 is substantially orthogonal to emitter plane 3 . It should be appreciated that, since the base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 substantially does not participate in distribution of emitter light, it may have any configuration dictated by positioning and mounting of lens 10 or other factors such as material or space conservation.
  • FIG. 15 shows that inner-surface front sector 20 includes a first, second and middle front regions 21 , 22 and 23 , respectively.
  • First front region 21 is adjacent to emitter axis 2 and is configured for refracting emitter light which passes through axis-adjacent first region 21 toward the emitter plane 3 . This provides a broader distribution of the light emitted about axis 2 and allows to enlarge the size of outer-surface first output area 181 to achieve better refraction of light outside lens 10 .
  • Light received by axis-adjacent first front region 21 has the highest intensity because typically the highest illumination intensity of the emitter light is concentrated about axis 2 .
  • first front region 21 By refracting light toward emitter plane 3 (or away from axis 2 ), first front region 21 allows for dispersion of such light over a larger space. This improves uniformity of illumination intensity and substantially decreases a so-called “hot-spot” effect in a plot of illumination intensity distribution.
  • FIG. 15 further illustrates that axis-adjacent first inner region 21 is substantially cross-sectionally concave.
  • Second front region 22 is spaced from first front region 21 and is configured for refracting emitter light away from emitter plane 3 . It is seen in FIG. 15 that second inner region 22 is substantially cross-sectionally convex. Second front region 22 moves light, which mostly includes light emitted within about 30° from emitter plane 3 , away from base-adjacent outer-surface front region 184 . As can be seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 17-20 , base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 is surrounded by structures 70 which may serve to secure lens 10 with respect to emitter 1 or be a shield blocking emitter light from going in an undesirable direction. As a result, any light that would arrive at base-adjacent front area 184 would be blocked by such structures 70 and would be eventually lost.
  • the direction of the majority of emitter light is initially substantially controlled by inner surface 14 and light from one of inner-surface front-sector regions is received substantially by only a corresponding one front output area of outer surface 17 .
  • each one front output area of outer surface 17 receives light which arrives at substantially narrow sector of angles. This, coupled with improved efficiency eliminating the need for bending axis-adjacent light for side illumination, simplifies the configuration of the front output region 18 of outer surface 17 for refraction of such light in a desired direction and, therefore, decreases a probability of an irregularity impact on the light-output direction.
  • Middle front region 23 joins and is substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to first and second front regions 21 and 22 .
  • Middle front region 23 is positioned with respect to emitter 1 to refract light toward emitter plane 3 by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to second front region 22 .
  • middle region 23 may be configured and positioned to allow emitter light to pass therethrough with substantially no refraction.
  • middle inner region 23 is substantially cross-sectionally linear. In other words, middle inner region 23 is of substantially truncated conical shape.
  • FIG. 16 shows that front output region 18 of outer surface 17 is configured for refracting light from inner-surface front sector 20 such that at outer surface 17 light from each of inner-surface front regions 21 , 22 and 23 is refracted substantially without overlapping light from other inner-surface front regions.
  • Each of output regions 181 , 182 and 183 is configured for refracting the light from a corresponding one of inner-surface front regions 21 , 22 and 23 .
  • axis-adjacent first output area 181 is configured for receiving emitter light from axis-adjacent inner-surface first front region 21 and further refracting such light toward emitter plane 3 .
  • Second output area 182 is configured for receiving emitter light from inner-surface second front region 22 and refracting such light substantially toward emitter plane 3 .
  • Middle output area 183 is configured for receiving emitter light from inner-surface middle front region 23 and refracting a majority of such light substantially toward emitter plane 3 .
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 10-12 best show a flange 71 that surrounds lens 10 substantially along emitter plane 3 and extends between base adjacent end 11 and outer surface 17 .
  • the illustrated embodiment shows lens 10 of the type that can be oriented for desired light distribution of each individual emitter 1 . This allows for each of a plurality of lenses 10 positioned over emitters on an LED-array module be differently oriented to achieve desired illumination distribution from such LED-array module as a whole.
  • flange 71 serves for securing lens 10 about emitter 1 by sandwiching flange 71 between a printed circuit board and other structures 70 such as sealing gasket or an LED-array module cover. It should be understood that this is just an exemplary configuration of lens 10 . Outer surface 17 can have other configurations which would be dictated by an intended illumination pattern.
  • lens 10 can be a part of a larger unit for positioning over a plurality of emitters and incorporating a plurality of lenses like lens 10 or of different configurations.
  • Inner-surface front sector 20 further includes a base-adjacent front region 25 which extends from second front region 22 and is configured such that the light emitted between second front region 22 and emitter plane 3 passes through base-adjacent front region 25 substantially free of refraction.
  • Inventive lens 10 further includes a peripheral front surface 16 positioned to receive light from base-adjacent front region 25 and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward outer surface 17 .
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • emitter-adjacent base end 11 forms a front opening 50 to a front cavity 51 centered on preferential side 5 and partially bounded by peripheral front surface 16 .
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show inner-surface front sector 20 of substantially circular annular cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3 .
  • inner-surface front sector 20 and peripheral front surface can have shapes that result in substantially oval or ovoid cross-sections made in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3 .
  • these surfaces may have symmetries other than rotational.
  • the inventive lens may be shaped without a symmetry and have asymmetrical surfaces.

Abstract

A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane. The lens has an emitter-adjacent base end forming an emitter-receiving opening to an emitter-surrounding cavity defined by an inner surface which includes a front sector centered on the preferential side and a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side. The front and back sectors differ in their respective configurations for refracting light from the emitter. The lens further includes an primary back surface positioned to receive light from at least a portion of the inner-surface back sector and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof. The inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface extend along substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane. The emitter-adjacent base end forms a back opening to a back cavity substantially centered on the non-preferential side and partially bounded by the primary back surface.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/475,194, filed May 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,348,475, issued Jan. 8, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/173,721, filed on Jul. 15, 2008, which is based in part on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/055,958, filed May 23, 2008. The entirety of the contents of patent application Ser. Nos. 12/475,194, 12/173,721 and 61/055,958 are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to LED lighting fixtures for various common illumination purposes. Still more specifically, this invention relates to the field of lensing for desired LED light distribution in LED lighting fixtures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for various common lighting purposes has increased, and this trend has accelerated as advances have been made in LEDs and in LED-array bearing devices, referred to as “LED modules.” Indeed, lighting needs which have primarily been served by fixtures using high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, halogen lamps, compact florescent light and other light sources are now increasingly beginning to be served by LEDs. Creative work continues in the field of LED development, and also in the field of effectively utilizing as much of the light emitted from LEDs as possible.
As is known, LED “packages,” which typically consist of a single LED (or small LED cluster) on a base with or without a “primary lens,” each have an individual lens thereover to direct light from the LED package as intended. (Such lens is sometimes referred to as a “secondary” lens when the package with which it is used includes a primary lens.) Development efforts have been made in the field of such lenses, with the intention being to redirect some of the package-emitted light in a manner forming illumination patterns desired for particular applications. However, such lenses have tended to fall short of the most desirable performance in that some LED-emitted light is lost.
Typically, some of the light from LEDs is emitted at angles that cause LED-lighting fixtures to provide less than desirable and less than fully efficient illumination patterns. Some prior lenses have been configured to prevent undesirable light from exiting the lens and others to block such light immediately upon its exiting the lens. Even though these configurations were deemed necessary to achieve desired illumination patterns and to prevent so-called lighting “trespass,” they tended to result in lost light and decreased efficiency of LED illuminators. It would be highly desirable to improve efficiency of the use of light emitted by LEDs in lighting fixtures.
A typical LED emits light over a wide range of angles such that light from the LED reaches a particular area of the output surface of the lens at somewhat different angles. This has made it very difficult to control refraction of such light. As a result, only a portion of light being refracted is refracted in a desired direction, while the reminder exits the lens with very little control. It would be desirable to provide improved control of the direction of light exiting such lenses.
Trespass lighting can be evaluated by more than just the amount of light emitted in an undesed direction; also to be considered is how far from the desired direction such light is directed. It would be highly beneficial to provide a lighting apparatus which produces a desired illumination pattern with a maximum amount of light emitted toward the space intended to be illuminated, in typical commercial applications.
Objects of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to provide improved LED lensing to overcome some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those referred to above.
Another object of the invention is to provide an LED lens with improved light-output efficiency for a variety of particular uses.
Another object of the invention is to provide an LED lens with improved control of the direction of light exiting the lens.
How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a lens with improved efficiency of distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter such as an LED package having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane. It is preferred that the light emitter is the LED package which is free of a surrounding reflective surface. Such improved efficiency of light output from the light emitter is achieved with the inventive lens which is specifically designed for refraction and useful output of light emitted in directions opposite to the desired illumination direction. The inventive lens directs the great majority of light from the emitter in the preferential-side direction, including light emitted at angles which previously resulted in the loss of such light. Such efficiency of light use is provided without use of separate reflectors—that is, on a lens-only basis.
The inventive lens has an emitter-adjacent base end which forms an emitter-receiving opening to an emitter-surrounding cavity defined by an inner surface. The inner surface includes a front sector centered on the preferential side and a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side. The front sector has a first configuration for refracting light from the emitter. The back sector has a second configuration for refracting light from the emitter. It is highly preferred that the second configuration differs from the first configuration. The lens also includes an axially-offset primary back surface positioned to receive light from at least a portion of the inner-surface back sector and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof. Light from the primary back surface is directed toward the preferential side.
The term “toward,” as used herein with respect to direction of light after refraction or TIR, means that, after refraction or TIR such light moves closer to the indicated direction even if still diverging from the indicated direction. For example, “toward the preferential side” means that, if after refraction or TIR the light still moves in the non-preferential direction, it does so at an angle closer (than prior to the refraction or TIR) to the particular axial plane which distinguishes the preferential side from the non-preferential side.
In highly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane.
The term “elliptical,” as used herein with respect to cross-sections of a surface in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane, means that such cross-sections are portions of ellipses. The term “wide side,” as used with respect to an ellipse, means a side which faces the major axis of the ellipse.
Referring to such elliptical cross-sections, it is preferred that each cross-section be symmetrical about its midpoint, and that it be centered on the plane extending from the center of the non-preferential side to the center of the preferential side. In the preferred embodiments in which the elliptical cross-section face the ellipse major axis, the distances from each elliptical cross-section to the emitter axis increase at positions away from such s these cross-sections extend away from the plane extending from the center of the non-preferential side to the center of the preferential side. Such configuration allows wide-angle distribution of emitter light to the preferential side. In other embodiments, in which the cross-sections of the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface have shorter radii of curvature, narrower and farther patterns of light distribution toward the preferential side are achieved.
The front sector preferably extends about the emitter axis along an arc that is greater than the arc along which the back sector extends. In preferred embodiments of the inventive lens, the back-sector arc is about half the front-sector arc. The lens of substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane including the emitter axis.
In the inventive lens, the emitter-adjacent base end preferably forms a back opening to a back cavity substantially centered on the non-preferential side and partially bounded by the primary back surface. The primary back surface transitions from near the inner-surface back sector at the emitter plane away from the emitter axis to terminate at a position distal from the base end. It is preferred that the back cavity is further bounded by an axially-remote secondary back surface and an end surface. The incidental light that enters the back cavity is preferably dispersed by the secondary back surface. The end surface extends from the primary back surface to the secondary back surface. The secondary back surface extends from the end surface to the base end and preferably has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
The inner-surface back sector preferably includes an intermediate back zone configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward the primary back surface for TIR thereof toward the preferential side.
In preferred embodiments, the inner-surface back sector also includes an axially-adjacent back zone. The axially-adjacent back zone is configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane and joins the intermediate back zone by transitioning from the emitter axis away from the emitter plane. The axially-adjacent back zone is preferably substantially cross-sectionally convex.
It is preferred that the intermediate back zone includes a first intermediate back section extending away from the emitter axis. In such embodiments, the intermediate back zone further preferably includes second and third intermediate sections. The second intermediate back section preferably extends from the first intermediate back section to the axially-adjacent back zone. The third intermediate back section preferably transitions from the first intermediate back section toward the emitter plane and is configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane with progressively lesser refraction at positions progressively closer to the emitter plane. It is preferred that the second and third intermediate back sections extend substantially orthogonally to the emitter plane and have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
The term “toward the emitter plane” means that after being refracted the light moves at smaller angles with respect to the emitter plane than prior to the refraction. The term “away from the emitter plane” means that after being refracted the light moves at greater angles with respect to the emitter plane than prior to the refraction.
The inventive lens further includes an outer surface configured for refracting emitter light in predominantly off-axis directions toward the preferential side. The outer surface has front and back output regions. The back output region is configured for refracting a preponderance of light received from the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface toward the preferential side. The back output region is further configured for receiving at least a portion of light from the first intermediate back surface and distributing it toward useful illumination of the non-preferential side.
In preferred embodiments of this invention, the inner-surface front sector includes a first, second and middle front regions. The first front region is adjacent to the emitter axis and is preferably configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane. The second front region is spaced from the first front region and is preferably configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane. The middle front region joins and is substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to the first and second front regions. It is preferred that the middle front region is positioned with respect to the emitter to refract light toward the emitter plane by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to the second front region.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the front output region of the outer surface is configured for refracting light from the inner-surface front sector such that at the outer surface light from each front region is refracted substantially without overlapping light from other front regions.
The second front region preferably terminates before reaching the emitter plane. The inner-surface front sector further preferably includes a base-adjacent front region which extends from the second front region and is configured such that the light emitted between the second front region and the emitter plane passes through the base-adjacent front region substantially free of refraction.
The preferred embodiments of the inventive lens further include a peripheral front surface positioned to receive light from the base-adjacent front region and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward the outer surface. In such embodiments, the emitter-adjacent base end preferably forms a front opening to a front cavity centered on the preferential side and partially bounded by the peripheral front surface.
As noted earlier, efficient use of LED light is important, particularly in applications involving illumination toward a preferential side. The inventive lens, in its preferred embodiments, is capable of directing 10% more of the total emitted light toward the preferential side than with prior lenses designed for preferential-side distribution. In such preferred embodiments, the inventive lens effectively utilizes as much as 90% of the emitter light for achieving useful illumination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the inventive lens.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional non-transparent perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing configurations of inner, back and front cavities as well as the outer surface.
FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the lens of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragment of the top view of the lens of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7-9 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter axis.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional front view of the lens of FIG. 1.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged back view of the lens of FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing refraction of the emitter light.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing refraction of the emitter light by the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 12 showing refraction of the emitter light by the inner-cavity front-sector regions and a peripheral front surface.
FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of emitter light refracted as in FIG. 15 by outer-surface front output region.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective top plan view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective front top view of the lens of FIG. 1 showing distribution of the emitter light from the inner-cavity back sector and primary back surface.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective side view from above of the lens of FIG. 1 showing a fragmental light trace and an illumination plot identifying position of this fragment of light thereon.
FIG. 20 is another enlarged fragmentary perspective side view from above of the lens of FIG. 1 showing a fragmental light trace and an illumination plot identifying position of this fragment of light thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1-20 illustrate lens 10 which is a preferred embodiment of the invention. Lens 10 is for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side 5 from a light emitter 1 which has an emitter axis 2 and defines an emitter plane 3. As seen at least in FIGS. 1 and 2, light emitter 1 is an LED package which is free of a surrounding reflective surface.
Lens 10 has an emitter-adjacent base end 11 which forms an emitter-receiving opening 12 to an emitter-surrounding cavity 13 defined by an inner surface 14. Cavity 13 defines a space between emitter 1 and an inner-cavity surface 14 such that emitter light goes through air to enter lens material at inner-cavity surface 14. Because air and the lens material, which may be acrylic or other suitable material, have different refraction indexes, this results in bending of the light at inner-cavity surface 14.
Inner surface 14 includes a front sector 20 centered on preferential side 5 and a back sector 30 centered on the non-preferential side 6 which is radially opposite preferential side 5. As best seen in FIGS. 1-5, front sector 20 has a first configuration for refracting light from emitter 1. Back sector 30 has a second configuration for refracting light from emitter 1. The second configuration differs from the first configuration. Lens 10 also includes an axially-offset primary back surface 15 positioned to receive light from at least a portion of inner-surface back sector 30 and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, light from primary back surface 15 is directed toward preferential side 5.
FIGS. 1 and 5-9 show that inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15 have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3. FIGS. 7-9 show cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3 at different distances from emitter plane 3.
FIG. 6 further illustrates elliptical curvatures of inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15. FIG. 6 best shows how these cross-sections extend from their respective points which are along a plane of lens symmetry 4 and are closest to emitter axis 2 away from symmetry plane 4 to positions which are farthest from emitter axis 2.
It is best shown in FIG. 5 that front sector 20 extends about emitter axis 2 along an arc 24 and that the back sector extends along an arc 31. Front-sector arc 24 is greater than back-sector arc 31. FIG. 5 further shows that back-sector arc 31 is about half front-sector arc 24. It can further be seen in FIG. 5 that lens 10 is bilaterally symmetrical about plane 4 which includes emitter axis 2.
As best seen in FIGS. 1-4, emitter-adjacent base end 11 further forms a back opening 40 to a back cavity 41 substantially centered on non-preferential side 6 and partially bounded by primary back surface 15. It can be seen that primary back surface 15 transitions from near inner-surface back sector 30 at emitter plane 3 away from emitter axis 2 to terminate at a position distal from base end 11. FIGS. 1-4 further illustrate that back cavity 41 is further bounded by an axially-remote secondary back surface 42 and an end surface 43. End surface 43 extends from primary back surface 15 to secondary back surface 42. Secondary back surface 42 extends from end surface 43 to base end 11 substantially orthogonally to emitter plane 3 and, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3.
FIGS. 1-4 best show that the inner-surface back sector 30 includes an intermediate back zone 32 and an axially-adjacent back zone 33. Axially-adjacent back zone 33 joins intermediate back zone 32 by transitioning from emitter axis 2 away from emitter plane 3. It is seen that axially-adjacent back zone 33 is substantially cross-sectionally convex.
It is best seen in FIGS. 12-14 that intermediate back zone 32 is configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward primary back surface 15 for TIR thereof toward preferential side 5. FIGS. 12-14 also show that axially-adjacent back zone 33 is configured for refracting emitter light away from emitter plane 3.
As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, intermediate back zone 32 includes a first intermediate back section 321 extending away from emitter axis 2, a second intermediate section 322 and a third intermediate section 323. Second intermediate back section 322 extends from first intermediate back section 321 to axially-adjacent back zone 33. Third intermediate back section 323 transitions from first intermediate back section 321 toward emitter plane 3. Second and third intermediate back sections 322 and 323 extend substantially orthogonally to emitter plane 3. FIGS. 5-9 illustrate that second and third intermediate back sections 322 and 323 each have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to emitter plane 3. As best seen in FIGS. 12-14, third intermediate back section 323 is configured for refracting emitter light toward emitter plane 3 with progressively lesser refraction at positions progressively closer to emitter plane 3.
Inventive lens 10 further includes an outer surface 17 configured for refracting emitter light in predominantly off-axis directions toward preferential side 5. Outer surface 17 has front and back output regions 18 and 19. Outer surface 17 extends for a majority of the 180° about emitter axis 2 to provide a large refractive output surface for a wide-angle distribution of emitter light with improved control. FIG. 4 best shows that outer surface 17 extends for about a 150° around emitter axis 2.
FIGS. 12-14 illustrate that back output region 19 is configured for refracting a preponderance of light received from inner-surface back sector 30 and primary back surface 15 toward preferential side 5. Back output region 19 is further configured for receiving at least a portion of light from first intermediate back surface 321 and distributing such light toward useful illumination of non-preferential side 6.
FIG. 16 shows outer-surface front output region 18 including an axis-adjacent first output area 181, a second output area 182 spaced from axis-adjacent first output area 181, and a middle output area 183 joining first and second output areas 181 and 182. Outer-surface front output region 18 further includes a base-adjacent outer-surface area 184 which extends from second output area 182 and is substantially free from receiving any emitter light. Base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 is substantially orthogonal to emitter plane 3. It should be appreciated that, since the base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 substantially does not participate in distribution of emitter light, it may have any configuration dictated by positioning and mounting of lens 10 or other factors such as material or space conservation.
FIG. 15 shows that inner-surface front sector 20 includes a first, second and middle front regions 21, 22 and 23, respectively. First front region 21 is adjacent to emitter axis 2 and is configured for refracting emitter light which passes through axis-adjacent first region 21 toward the emitter plane 3. This provides a broader distribution of the light emitted about axis 2 and allows to enlarge the size of outer-surface first output area 181 to achieve better refraction of light outside lens 10. Light received by axis-adjacent first front region 21 has the highest intensity because typically the highest illumination intensity of the emitter light is concentrated about axis 2. By refracting light toward emitter plane 3 (or away from axis 2), first front region 21 allows for dispersion of such light over a larger space. This improves uniformity of illumination intensity and substantially decreases a so-called “hot-spot” effect in a plot of illumination intensity distribution. FIG. 15 further illustrates that axis-adjacent first inner region 21 is substantially cross-sectionally concave.
Second front region 22 is spaced from first front region 21 and is configured for refracting emitter light away from emitter plane 3. It is seen in FIG. 15 that second inner region 22 is substantially cross-sectionally convex. Second front region 22 moves light, which mostly includes light emitted within about 30° from emitter plane 3, away from base-adjacent outer-surface front region 184. As can be seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 17-20, base-adjacent outer-surface front area 184 is surrounded by structures 70 which may serve to secure lens 10 with respect to emitter 1 or be a shield blocking emitter light from going in an undesirable direction. As a result, any light that would arrive at base-adjacent front area 184 would be blocked by such structures 70 and would be eventually lost. In prior lenses, because some of the light was lost, to meet goals of desired polar candela plots, the outer surface had to be designed to bend some of the axis-adjacent light to the sides to provide required illumination. By refracting light received by second front region 22 away from emitter plane 3 (or toward emitter axis 2), this light is received by outer surface 17 at output area 182 which not only transmits such light out of lens 10 but also further refracts this light in a desired direction, i.e., toward emitter plane 3 for illumination farther from emitter axis 2, as shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, since such light from second front region 22 transmitted by second output area 182 provides desired illumination at the sides of desired illumination patterns, there is no need for bending for such purpose axis-adjacent light transmitted by first output area 181.
In prior lenses, the space between the emitter and inner lens surface was filled with an optical gel such that the emitter light passed therethrough without refraction and arrived to the outer surface at the same angle as emitted. In such prior lenses, the outer surface was the only vehicle for light refraction. When compared to such prior lenses, the configuration of front output region 18 of outer surface 17 of lens 10 is unexpectedly substantially simpler then of those prior lenses. In the prior lenses, light arrived at the outer surface at broad range of angles. Thus, almost all these angles had to be taken into account in forming that prior outer surface for refraction of light in a desirable direction. In lens 10, the direction of the majority of emitter light is initially substantially controlled by inner surface 14 and light from one of inner-surface front-sector regions is received substantially by only a corresponding one front output area of outer surface 17. As a result, each one front output area of outer surface 17 receives light which arrives at substantially narrow sector of angles. This, coupled with improved efficiency eliminating the need for bending axis-adjacent light for side illumination, simplifies the configuration of the front output region 18 of outer surface 17 for refraction of such light in a desired direction and, therefore, decreases a probability of an irregularity impact on the light-output direction.
Middle front region 23 joins and is substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to first and second front regions 21 and 22. Middle front region 23 is positioned with respect to emitter 1 to refract light toward emitter plane 3 by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to second front region 22. In some cases, middle region 23 may be configured and positioned to allow emitter light to pass therethrough with substantially no refraction. As best shown in FIG. 15, middle inner region 23 is substantially cross-sectionally linear. In other words, middle inner region 23 is of substantially truncated conical shape.
FIG. 16 shows that front output region 18 of outer surface 17 is configured for refracting light from inner-surface front sector 20 such that at outer surface 17 light from each of inner- surface front regions 21, 22 and 23 is refracted substantially without overlapping light from other inner-surface front regions. Each of output regions 181, 182 and 183 is configured for refracting the light from a corresponding one of inner- surface front regions 21, 22 and 23. As best seen in FIG. 16, axis-adjacent first output area 181 is configured for receiving emitter light from axis-adjacent inner-surface first front region 21 and further refracting such light toward emitter plane 3. Second output area 182 is configured for receiving emitter light from inner-surface second front region 22 and refracting such light substantially toward emitter plane 3. Middle output area 183 is configured for receiving emitter light from inner-surface middle front region 23 and refracting a majority of such light substantially toward emitter plane 3.
FIGS. 1, 2 and 10-12 best show a flange 71 that surrounds lens 10 substantially along emitter plane 3 and extends between base adjacent end 11 and outer surface 17. The illustrated embodiment shows lens 10 of the type that can be oriented for desired light distribution of each individual emitter 1. This allows for each of a plurality of lenses 10 positioned over emitters on an LED-array module be differently oriented to achieve desired illumination distribution from such LED-array module as a whole. In such embodiment, flange 71 serves for securing lens 10 about emitter 1 by sandwiching flange 71 between a printed circuit board and other structures 70 such as sealing gasket or an LED-array module cover. It should be understood that this is just an exemplary configuration of lens 10. Outer surface 17 can have other configurations which would be dictated by an intended illumination pattern. Alternatively, lens 10 can be a part of a larger unit for positioning over a plurality of emitters and incorporating a plurality of lenses like lens 10 or of different configurations.
It is further seen in FIG. 15 that second front region 22 terminates before reaching emitter plane 3. Inner-surface front sector 20 further includes a base-adjacent front region 25 which extends from second front region 22 and is configured such that the light emitted between second front region 22 and emitter plane 3 passes through base-adjacent front region 25 substantially free of refraction.
Inventive lens 10 further includes a peripheral front surface 16 positioned to receive light from base-adjacent front region 25 and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward outer surface 17. As best seen in FIG. 3, emitter-adjacent base end 11 forms a front opening 50 to a front cavity 51 centered on preferential side 5 and partially bounded by peripheral front surface 16.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show inner-surface front sector 20 of substantially circular annular cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3. Alternatively, inner-surface front sector 20 and peripheral front surface can have shapes that result in substantially oval or ovoid cross-sections made in planes substantially parallel to emitter plane 3. In other words, these surfaces may have symmetries other than rotational. It should be further appreciated that, depending on the intended illumination pattern, the inventive lens may be shaped without a symmetry and have asymmetrical surfaces.
While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.

Claims (24)

The invention claimed is:
1. A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane, comprising:
an outer surface configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward the preferential side; and
a refracting inner surface configured for refracting light from the emitter, the refracting inner surface comprising:
a front sector centered on the preferential side; and
a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side and having a surface configuration differing from a surface configuration of the front sector.
2. The lens of claim 1 wherein the back sector of the refracting inner surface includes at least a pair of surface portions transverse to each other.
3. The lens of claim 1 wherein the inner refracting surface defines an emitter-surrounding cavity with an emitter-receiving opening in an emitter-adjacent base end of the lens.
4. The lens of claim 3 further comprising a reflecting primary back surface positioned to receive light from at least a portion of the refracting-inner-surface back sector and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward the lens outer surface.
5. The lens of claim 4 wherein the emitter-adjacent base end forms a back opening to a back cavity substantially centered on the non-preferential side and partially bounded by the primary back surface.
6. The lens of claim 5 wherein the primary back surface transitions from near the inner-surface back sector at the emitter plane away from the emitter axis to terminate at a position distal from the base end.
7. The lens of claim 6 wherein the back cavity is further bounded by an axially-remote secondary back surface and an end surface extending from the primary back surface to the secondary back surface.
8. The lens of claim 7 wherein the secondary back surface extends from the end surface to the base end and has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
9. The lens of claim 1 being substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane including the emitter axis.
10. A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane, the lens comprising;
an outer surface;
a refracting inner surface configured for refracting light from the emitter, the refracting inner surface comprising:
a front sector centered on the preferential side; and
a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side and having a surface configuration differing from a surface configuration of the front sector; and
a reflecting primary back surface positioned to receive light from at least a portion of the refracting-inner-surface back sector and configured for total internal reflection (TIR) thereof toward the lens outer surface.
11. The lens of claim 10 wherein the reflecting primary back surface has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane.
12. The lens of claim 10 wherein the back sector of the refracting inner surface has substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane.
13. The lens of claim 12 wherein such substantially elliptical cross-sections are elliptical wide sides.
14. The lens of claim 10 wherein the outer surface is configured for refracting emitter light predominantly toward the preferential side.
15. The lens of claim 14 wherein the outer surface has front and back output regions, the back output region being configured for refracting a preponderance of light received from the inner-surface back sector and the primary back surface toward the preferential side.
16. The lens of claim 15 wherein the inner-surface front sector comprises:
a first front region adjacent to the emitter axis and configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane;
a second front region spaced from the first front region and configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane; and
a middle front region joining and substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to the first and second front regions, the middle front region being positioned with respect to the emitter to refract light toward the emitter plane by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to the second front region.
17. The lens of claim 16 wherein the front output region of the outer surface is configured for refracting light from the inner-surface front sector such that at the outer surface light from each front region is refracted substantially without overlapping light from other front regions.
18. A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane, the lens comprising;
an outer surface; and
a refracting inner surface configured for refracting light from the emitter, the refracting inner surface comprising:
a front sector centered on the preferential side; and
a back sector centered on the non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side and having a surface configuration differing from a surface configuration of the front sector, the back sector having substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes substantially parallel to the emitter plane.
19. A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane, the lens comprising an outer surface and a refracting inner surface comprising:
a front sector centered on the preferential side; and
a back sector centered on a non-preferential side radially opposite the preferential side and having a surface configuration differing from a surface configuration of the front sector which has a substantially smooth surface configuration extending to the juncture of the front and back sectors.
20. The lens of claim 19 wherein the inner-surface back sector further includes an axially-adjacent back zone which is configured for refracting emitter light away from the emitter plane and joins the intermediate back zone by transitioning from the emitter axis away from the emitter plane.
21. The lens of claim 20 wherein the axially-adjacent back zone is substantially cross-sectionally convex.
22. The lens of claim 20 wherein the intermediate back zone includes a first intermediate back section extending away from the emitter axis.
23. The lens of claim 22 wherein the intermediate back zone further comprises:
a second intermediate back section which extends from the first intermediate back section to the axially-adjacent back zone; and
a third intermediate back section transitioning from the first intermediate back section toward the emitter plane and configured for refracting emitter light toward the emitter plane with progressively lesser refraction at positions progressively closer to the emitter plane.
24. The lens of claim 23 wherein the second and third intermediate back sections extend substantially orthogonally to the emitter plane and have substantially elliptical cross-sections in planes parallel to the emitter plane.
US13/735,701 2008-05-23 2013-01-07 Lens with controlled backlight management Active 2029-12-10 US9476570B2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/735,701 US9476570B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2013-01-07 Lens with controlled backlight management
US14/747,586 US9488339B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2015-06-23 Lens with controlled backlight management

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5595808P 2008-05-23 2008-05-23
US12/173,721 US8388193B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2008-07-15 Lens with TIR for off-axial light distribution
US12/475,194 US8348475B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-29 Lens with controlled backlight management
US13/735,701 US9476570B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2013-01-07 Lens with controlled backlight management

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/475,194 Continuation US8348475B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-29 Lens with controlled backlight management

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/747,586 Continuation US9488339B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2015-06-23 Lens with controlled backlight management

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20140022797A1 US20140022797A1 (en) 2014-01-23
US9476570B2 true US9476570B2 (en) 2016-10-25

Family

ID=43220008

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/475,194 Active 2029-09-23 US8348475B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-29 Lens with controlled backlight management
US13/735,701 Active 2029-12-10 US9476570B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2013-01-07 Lens with controlled backlight management
US14/747,586 Active US9488339B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2015-06-23 Lens with controlled backlight management

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/475,194 Active 2029-09-23 US8348475B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-29 Lens with controlled backlight management

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/747,586 Active US9488339B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2015-06-23 Lens with controlled backlight management

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (3) US8348475B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2435756B1 (en)
CN (1) CN102449385B (en)
AU (1) AU2010254567B2 (en)
BR (1) BRPI1012095A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2762335C (en)
HK (1) HK1164979A1 (en)
MX (1) MX2011012253A (en)
NZ (1) NZ596435A (en)
WO (1) WO2010138151A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (56)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9070850B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2015-06-30 Cree, Inc. Light emitting diode package and method for fabricating same
US9793247B2 (en) 2005-01-10 2017-10-17 Cree, Inc. Solid state lighting component
US9335006B2 (en) 2006-04-18 2016-05-10 Cree, Inc. Saturated yellow phosphor converted LED and blue converted red LED
US10295147B2 (en) 2006-11-09 2019-05-21 Cree, Inc. LED array and method for fabricating same
US8348475B2 (en) * 2008-05-23 2013-01-08 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Lens with controlled backlight management
US9425172B2 (en) 2008-10-24 2016-08-23 Cree, Inc. Light emitter array
US10119662B2 (en) 2009-04-28 2018-11-06 Cree, Inc. Lens with controlled light refraction
US9255686B2 (en) 2009-05-29 2016-02-09 Cree, Inc. Multi-lens LED-array optic system
US8602591B2 (en) 2010-06-29 2013-12-10 Osram Sylvania Inc. Optical illumination system producing an asymmetric beam pattern
KR101756825B1 (en) * 2010-08-24 2017-07-11 삼성전자주식회사 Optical lens, led module and lighting apparatus having the optical lens
TW201219839A (en) * 2010-11-03 2012-05-16 Foxsemicon Integrated Tech Inc Lens and light source module
US9786811B2 (en) * 2011-02-04 2017-10-10 Cree, Inc. Tilted emission LED array
US9140430B2 (en) 2011-02-28 2015-09-22 Cooper Technologies Company Method and system for managing light from a light emitting diode
US9052086B2 (en) 2011-02-28 2015-06-09 Cooper Technologies Company Method and system for managing light from a light emitting diode
US10842016B2 (en) 2011-07-06 2020-11-17 Cree, Inc. Compact optically efficient solid state light source with integrated thermal management
DE102011085291B4 (en) * 2011-07-08 2021-02-25 Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh Light influencing element for influencing the light output of essentially point-shaped light sources
DE102011079404A1 (en) 2011-07-19 2013-01-24 Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh Arrangement for emitting light
US9541257B2 (en) * 2012-02-29 2017-01-10 Cree, Inc. Lens for primarily-elongate light distribution
US9541258B2 (en) 2012-02-29 2017-01-10 Cree, Inc. Lens for wide lateral-angle distribution
US10408429B2 (en) 2012-02-29 2019-09-10 Ideal Industries Lighting Llc Lens for preferential-side distribution
WO2013152199A1 (en) 2012-04-06 2013-10-10 Cree, Inc. Multi-lens led-array optic system
USD697664S1 (en) * 2012-05-07 2014-01-14 Cree, Inc. LED lens
WO2013169736A1 (en) * 2012-05-07 2013-11-14 Cree, Inc. Lens for preferential-side distribution
CN103453338A (en) * 2012-05-31 2013-12-18 台达电子工业股份有限公司 Lens element used for light source module and illuminating lamp
DE102013106158A1 (en) * 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. Lens for the asymmetrical illumination of an area
TWI422861B (en) * 2012-06-29 2014-01-11 一品光學工業股份有限公司 Light control lens and light source device using the same
US8974077B2 (en) 2012-07-30 2015-03-10 Ultravision Technologies, Llc Heat sink for LED light source
GB2506138B (en) * 2012-09-20 2014-11-19 Cooper Technologies Co Lens and light emitting device incorporating a lens
CN104919243A (en) * 2012-11-14 2015-09-16 库珀技术公司 Method and system for managing light from a light emitting diode
USD718490S1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-11-25 Cree, Inc. LED lens
WO2014145802A2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Abl Ip Holding Llc Led assembly having a reflector or refractor that provides improved light control
US9080746B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-07-14 Abl Ip Holding Llc LED assembly having a refractor that provides improved light control
EP2971946B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2021-02-17 Ideal Industries Lighting LLC Lens with controlled light refraction
KR102081246B1 (en) * 2013-04-15 2020-02-25 엘지전자 주식회사 Display apparatus
DE202013101815U1 (en) * 2013-04-26 2014-07-29 Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh Arrangement for emitting light with an LED light source and a reflector
WO2014197697A1 (en) * 2013-06-06 2014-12-11 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Lighting for audio devices
US9065026B2 (en) 2013-08-07 2015-06-23 GE Lighting Solutions, LLC Lens element for distributing light with a uniform intensity distribution and lighting device comprised thereof
US9651217B2 (en) 2013-11-25 2017-05-16 Utc Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. Lens assembly
ES2728848T3 (en) * 2013-12-17 2019-10-29 Goodrich Lighting Systems Gmbh Aircraft and aircraft light unit having said aircraft light unit
US9523479B2 (en) 2014-01-03 2016-12-20 Cree, Inc. LED lens
CN103807806B (en) * 2014-01-22 2016-01-20 宏力照明集团有限公司 The light distributing method of the COB module LED street lamp lens in 3,5 tracks can be irradiated to
CN104864278B (en) * 2014-02-20 2017-05-10 清华大学 LED free-form surface lighting system
US20150316219A1 (en) * 2014-05-01 2015-11-05 CoreLed Systems, LLC High-pass filter for led lighting
US10002509B2 (en) * 2014-07-30 2018-06-19 Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh Optic for a strobe notification appliance
US9410674B2 (en) 2014-08-18 2016-08-09 Cree, Inc. LED lens
EP3001341B1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2020-01-15 Nxp B.V. NFC device, software installation method, software uninstallation method, computer program and article of manufacture
RU2699384C2 (en) * 2015-04-14 2019-09-05 Филипс Лайтинг Холдинг Б.В. Asymmetric optical structure with frontal projection
US10197245B1 (en) 2015-11-09 2019-02-05 Abl Ip Holding Llc Asymmetric vision enhancement optics, luminaires providing asymmetric light distributions and associated methods
US10432461B2 (en) * 2015-12-04 2019-10-01 T-Mobile Usa, Inc. Peer-to-peer distribution of radio protocol data for software defined radio (SDR) updates
TW201723579A (en) * 2015-12-24 2017-07-01 泰金寶電通股份有限公司 Lens and light source device
US10923635B2 (en) 2016-12-30 2021-02-16 Lumileds Llc Phosphor deposition system for LEDs
WO2018138406A1 (en) * 2017-01-25 2018-08-02 Ledil Oy An optical device for modifying light distribution
US10468566B2 (en) * 2017-04-10 2019-11-05 Ideal Industries Lighting Llc Hybrid lens for controlled light distribution
DE102017109079B4 (en) * 2017-04-27 2024-02-22 OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Optoelectronic component and component with such a component
US10274159B2 (en) 2017-07-07 2019-04-30 RAB Lighting Inc. Lenses and methods for directing light toward a side of a luminaire
CN113251383B (en) * 2021-06-04 2022-06-21 浙江光锥科技有限公司 TIR collimating lens

Citations (166)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1404004A (en) 1921-01-07 1922-01-17 Gen Electric Searchlight window
US1535486A (en) 1922-08-28 1925-04-28 James W Lundy Electric-lamp bulb
US2007033A (en) 1932-01-02 1935-07-02 Holophane Co Inc Lighting unit
US2212876A (en) 1938-11-05 1940-08-27 Albert L Chauvet Nonglare headlight
US2254961A (en) 1937-08-21 1941-09-02 George M Cressaty Unitary lens system
US2802097A (en) * 1952-09-16 1957-08-06 Holophane Co Inc Luminaires
US2908197A (en) 1954-01-29 1959-10-13 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Wide angle lenses
US3497687A (en) 1967-08-30 1970-02-24 Donald W Hermann Lens attachment for automobile headlights
US3625615A (en) 1969-04-01 1971-12-07 Zeiss Stiftung A device for spectral dispersion of light employing a predispersion prism and a grafting monochromator
US4186995A (en) 1978-03-30 1980-02-05 Amp Incorporated Light device, lens, and fiber optic package
US4254453A (en) 1978-08-25 1981-03-03 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
US4336580A (en) 1978-08-25 1982-06-22 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
US4345308A (en) 1978-08-25 1982-08-17 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
JPS60199746A (en) 1984-03-23 1985-10-09 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Lighting fixture for car
JPS61214485A (en) 1985-03-19 1986-09-24 Stanley Electric Co Ltd Led for light source
JPS61160328U (en) 1985-03-26 1986-10-04
JPS61185980U (en) 1985-05-09 1986-11-20
US4650998A (en) 1984-12-10 1987-03-17 Siemens Corporate Research & Support, Inc. Highly aligned optical device
US4767172A (en) 1983-01-28 1988-08-30 Xerox Corporation Collector for an LED array
US4845600A (en) 1988-03-14 1989-07-04 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle spoiler lamp device
US4862330A (en) 1987-09-21 1989-08-29 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle lamp
US4935665A (en) 1987-12-24 1990-06-19 Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd. Light emitting diode lamp
US4941072A (en) 1988-04-08 1990-07-10 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Linear light source
US5001609A (en) 1988-10-05 1991-03-19 Hewlett-Packard Company Nonimaging light source
US5014165A (en) 1988-12-22 1991-05-07 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Glass-made lens
US5013144A (en) 1988-10-15 1991-05-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Light source having a multiply conic lens
US5062027A (en) 1989-02-09 1991-10-29 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Automobile signal lamp
US5127728A (en) 1990-01-18 1992-07-07 The Aerospace Corporation Compact prism spectrograph suitable for broadband spectral surveys with array detectors
US5140220A (en) 1985-12-02 1992-08-18 Yumi Sakai Light diffusion type light emitting diode
US5174649A (en) 1991-07-17 1992-12-29 Precision Solar Controls Inc. Led lamp including refractive lens element
USRE34254E (en) 1989-10-05 1993-05-18 Dialight Corporation Surface mounted LED package
US5289082A (en) 1990-09-07 1994-02-22 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba LED lamp
US5302778A (en) 1992-08-28 1994-04-12 Eastman Kodak Company Semiconductor insulation for optical devices
US5349504A (en) 1993-07-12 1994-09-20 Dialight Corporation Multi-level lightpipe design for SMD LEDs
GB2282700A (en) 1993-10-01 1995-04-12 John Herbert Brown Optical element for use with an LED
US5592578A (en) 1995-11-01 1997-01-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Peripheral optical element for redirecting light from an LED
US5784209A (en) 1995-05-25 1998-07-21 Nikon Corporation Multi-axis optical lens
US5813743A (en) 1995-03-27 1998-09-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Lighting unit
US5813752A (en) 1997-05-27 1998-09-29 Philips Electronics North America Corporation UV/blue LED-phosphor device with short wave pass, long wave pass band pass and peroit filters
US5865529A (en) 1997-03-10 1999-02-02 Yan; Ellis Light emitting diode lamp having a spherical radiating pattern
US5894196A (en) 1996-05-03 1999-04-13 Mcdermott; Kevin Angled elliptical axial lighting device
US5894195A (en) 1996-05-03 1999-04-13 Mcdermott; Kevin Elliptical axial lighting device
US5898267A (en) 1996-04-10 1999-04-27 Mcdermott; Kevin Parabolic axial lighting device
US5924788A (en) 1997-09-23 1999-07-20 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products Illuminating lens designed by extrinsic differential geometry
US5939996A (en) 1996-03-29 1999-08-17 Rolls-Royce Power Engineering Plc Display sign and an optical element for use in the same
WO1999050596A2 (en) 1998-03-26 1999-10-07 Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Lomo Illumination device for generating non-symmetric light beam, optical lens array and optical lens
US5995291A (en) 1996-03-25 1999-11-30 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Optical system and optical device comprising diffractive optical element
WO2000024062A1 (en) 1998-10-21 2000-04-27 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Led module and luminaire
US6097549A (en) 1997-08-12 2000-08-01 Breault Research Organization, Inc. Bireflective lens element
US6229160B1 (en) 1997-06-03 2001-05-08 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Light extraction from a semiconductor light-emitting device via chip shaping
US6244727B1 (en) 1999-09-27 2001-06-12 American Signal Company Optic lens cell and illuminated signage having a cell array
EP1107210A2 (en) 1999-12-09 2001-06-13 SWARCO FUTURIT Verkehrssignalsysteme Ges.m.b.H. LED signal emitter comprising a plurality of LED zones
US6250787B1 (en) 1998-12-15 2001-06-26 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle lamp fixture
US6274924B1 (en) 1998-11-05 2001-08-14 Lumileds Lighting, U.S. Llc Surface mountable LED package
US6273596B1 (en) 1997-09-23 2001-08-14 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products, Inc. Illuminating lens designed by extrinsic differential geometry
US6283613B1 (en) 1999-07-29 2001-09-04 Cooper Technologies Company LED traffic light with individual LED reflectors
US6296376B1 (en) 1998-08-12 2001-10-02 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Led lamp having a prismatically-cut modifier
US6361190B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2002-03-26 Mcdermott Kevin Large surface LED lighting device
US6361192B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2002-03-26 Global Research & Development Corp Lens system for enhancing LED light output
US6443594B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2002-09-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. One-piece lens arrays for collimating and focusing light and led light generators using same
US6473238B1 (en) 2000-03-17 2002-10-29 Stephen Daniell Lens arrays
US6481130B1 (en) 2000-08-11 2002-11-19 Leotek Electronics Corporation Light emitting diode linear array with lens stripe for illuminated signs
US6498355B1 (en) 2001-10-09 2002-12-24 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc High flux LED array
US6504301B1 (en) 1999-09-03 2003-01-07 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Non-incandescent lightbulb package using light emitting diodes
US6502956B1 (en) 1999-03-25 2003-01-07 Leotek Electronics Corporation Light emitting diode lamp with individual LED lenses
US6541800B2 (en) 2001-02-22 2003-04-01 Weldon Technologies, Inc. High power LED
US6547423B2 (en) 2000-12-22 2003-04-15 Koninklijke Phillips Electronics N.V. LED collimation optics with improved performance and reduced size
US6550940B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2003-04-22 Toyoda Gosei Co,., Ltd. Lighting device
US6554451B1 (en) 1999-08-27 2003-04-29 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Luminaire, optical element and method of illuminating an object
US6560038B1 (en) 2001-12-10 2003-05-06 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products, Inc. Light extraction from LEDs with light pipes
US6598998B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2003-07-29 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Side emitting light emitting device
US6601962B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2003-08-05 Nichia Corporation Surface light emitting device
US6607286B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2003-08-19 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Lens and lens cap with sawtooth portion for light emitting diode
US6616299B2 (en) 2001-02-02 2003-09-09 Gelcore Llc Single optical element LED signal
US6637921B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2003-10-28 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED bulb with interchangeable lens optic
US6679621B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2004-01-20 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Side emitting LED and lens
US6682211B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2004-01-27 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED lamp capsule
US20040037076A1 (en) 2002-07-17 2004-02-26 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting diode lamp and light emitting diode display unit
US6730940B1 (en) 2002-10-29 2004-05-04 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Enhanced brightness light emitting device spot emitter
US20040114355A1 (en) 2001-05-30 2004-06-17 Alexander Rizkin In-pavement directional LED luminaire
US20040156209A1 (en) 2003-02-10 2004-08-12 Hiroyuki Ishida Vehicular headlamp and optical unit
US20040207999A1 (en) 2003-03-14 2004-10-21 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. LED package
US6808293B2 (en) 2001-06-27 2004-10-26 Nichia Corporation LED lamp with prismatic cover lens
US20040212291A1 (en) 2000-03-14 2004-10-28 Keuper Matthijs Hendrik Light-emitting diode, lighting device and method of manufacturing same
US6837605B2 (en) 2001-11-28 2005-01-04 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh Led illumination system
US6851835B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2005-02-08 Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Large area shallow-depth full-fill LED light assembly
US20050073849A1 (en) 2003-10-06 2005-04-07 Greg Rhoads Light source using light emitting diodes and an improved method of collecting the energy radiating from them
US20050083699A1 (en) 2003-08-12 2005-04-21 Greg Rhoads Apparatus and method for using emitting diodes (LED) in a side-emitting device
US6896381B2 (en) 2002-10-11 2005-05-24 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Compact folded-optics illumination lens
US6903376B2 (en) 1999-12-22 2005-06-07 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Selective placement of quantum wells in flipchip light emitting diodes for improved light extraction
US6918677B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2005-07-19 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US6924943B2 (en) * 2002-12-02 2005-08-02 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Asymmetric TIR lenses producing off-axis beams
US6929384B2 (en) 2001-02-09 2005-08-16 Nichia Corporation Led indicator lamp
US20050179041A1 (en) 2004-02-18 2005-08-18 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Illumination system with LEDs
US20050205878A1 (en) 2004-02-26 2005-09-22 Peter Kan Apparatus for forming an asymmetric illumination beam pattern
US6948840B2 (en) 2001-11-16 2005-09-27 Everbrite, Llc Light emitting diode light bar
US20050224826A1 (en) 2004-03-19 2005-10-13 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Optical system for light emitting diodes
US6955451B2 (en) 2003-08-25 2005-10-18 Osram Sylvania Inc. Lamp with LED substrates supported by heat conductive post, and method of making such lamp
US20050281047A1 (en) 2004-06-16 2005-12-22 Osram Sylvania Inc. LED lamp and lamp/reflector assembly
US6987613B2 (en) 2001-03-30 2006-01-17 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Forming an optical element on the surface of a light emitting device for improved light extraction
US20060013002A1 (en) 2004-07-16 2006-01-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Light emitting diode disc optic with heat sink housing
US20060013000A1 (en) 2004-07-16 2006-01-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Flat mount for light emitting diode source
US6991355B1 (en) 2004-06-16 2006-01-31 Osram Sylvania Inc. light emitting diode lamp with light pipes
US6995402B2 (en) 2003-10-03 2006-02-07 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Integrated reflector cup for a light emitting device mount
US7009213B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2006-03-07 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting devices with improved light extraction efficiency
US20060067640A1 (en) 2004-09-24 2006-03-30 Min-Hsun Hsieh Illumination package
US7021797B2 (en) 2003-05-13 2006-04-04 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Optical device for repositioning and redistributing an LED's light
US20060082999A1 (en) 2004-10-18 2006-04-20 Klein W R Refractive clamp/optic for light emitting diode
US20060083000A1 (en) 2004-10-18 2006-04-20 Ju-Young Yoon Light emitting diode and lens for the same
US7042021B2 (en) 2003-10-02 2006-05-09 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode with reflection cup
US20060105482A1 (en) 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Array of light emitting devices to produce a white light source
US7053419B1 (en) 2000-09-12 2006-05-30 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting diodes with improved light extraction efficiency
US7063441B2 (en) 2003-07-02 2006-06-20 Kramer Eric W Soft light fixture
US7064355B2 (en) 2000-09-12 2006-06-20 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting diodes with improved light extraction efficiency
US7080932B2 (en) 2004-01-26 2006-07-25 Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, Llc LED with an optical system to increase luminance by recycling emitted light
US7083313B2 (en) 2004-06-28 2006-08-01 Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Side-emitting collimator
US20060181902A1 (en) 2004-12-27 2006-08-17 Nichia Corporation Optical guide and surface light emitting apparatus using the same
US20060186431A1 (en) 2005-02-18 2006-08-24 Nichia Corporation Light emitting device provided with lens for controlling light distribution characteristic
US20060198144A1 (en) 2005-03-07 2006-09-07 Nichia Corporation Planar light source and planar lighting apparatus
US7106523B2 (en) 2002-01-11 2006-09-12 Ultradent Products, Inc. Optical lens used to focus led light
US7111972B2 (en) 2004-06-23 2006-09-26 Osram Sylvania Inc. LED lamp with central optical light guide
US7114838B2 (en) 2005-01-12 2006-10-03 Au Optronics Corp. Dish lens for backlight module and light emitting diode
US7118236B2 (en) 2004-08-11 2006-10-10 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode lens and backlight apparatus having the same
US7118262B2 (en) 2004-07-23 2006-10-10 Cree, Inc. Reflective optical elements for semiconductor light emitting devices
US7121691B2 (en) 2004-09-22 2006-10-17 Osram Sylvania Inc. Lamp assembly with interchangeable light distributing cap
US7125143B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2006-10-24 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh LED module
US7125160B2 (en) 2004-10-29 2006-10-24 Applied Innovative Technologies, Inc. Led light collection and uniform transmission system using a conical reflector with a roughed up inner surface
WO2006111805A1 (en) 2005-04-16 2006-10-26 Acol Technologies Sa Optical light source having displaced axes
US7153002B2 (en) 2004-10-15 2006-12-26 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Lens for LED light sources
US7153000B2 (en) 2004-08-12 2006-12-26 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Multi-lens light emitting diode
US20070019416A1 (en) 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode package having dual lens structure for lateral light emission
US7172324B2 (en) 2004-01-05 2007-02-06 Leotek Electronics Corporation Internally illuminated light panel with LED modules having light redirecting devices
WO2007018927A2 (en) 2005-07-22 2007-02-15 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. A light-conducting pedestal configuration for an led
US7182497B2 (en) 2004-09-24 2007-02-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Illumination unit using LED and image projecting apparatus employing the same
US20070058369A1 (en) 2005-01-26 2007-03-15 Parkyn William A Linear lenses for LEDs
US7213945B2 (en) 2002-05-17 2007-05-08 Ccs, Inc. Light emitting diode and method for fabricating the same
US7246931B2 (en) 2004-12-15 2007-07-24 Epistar Corporation LED light source
US7246923B2 (en) 2004-02-11 2007-07-24 3M Innovative Properties Company Reshaping light source modules and illumination systems using the same
US7254309B1 (en) 2006-07-14 2007-08-07 Coretronic Corporation Side emitting LED and lens
US20070201225A1 (en) 2006-02-27 2007-08-30 Illumination Management Systems LED device for wide beam generation
US7329029B2 (en) 2003-05-13 2008-02-12 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Optical device for LED-based lamp
US7348723B2 (en) 2004-09-27 2008-03-25 Enplas Corporation Emission device, surface light source device, display and light flux control member
US7352011B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2008-04-01 Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, Llc Wide emitting lens for LED useful for backlighting
JP2008103300A (en) 2006-09-21 2008-05-01 Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp Led module, and luminaire
US20080101063A1 (en) 2006-10-27 2008-05-01 Teruo Koike LED Lighting Fixture
US7411742B1 (en) 2007-02-20 2008-08-12 Sekonix Co., Ltd. Focusing lens for LED
US7410275B2 (en) 2004-09-21 2008-08-12 Lumination Llc Refractive optic for uniform illumination
US20080205061A1 (en) 2005-04-28 2008-08-28 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. Apparatus And Method Of Using A Led Light Source To Generate An Efficent, Narrow, High-Aspect Ratio Light Pattern
US20080239722A1 (en) 2007-04-02 2008-10-02 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Light-Directing LED Apparatus
WO2008144672A1 (en) 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. An improved led device for wide beam generation and method of making the same
US20090086498A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2009-04-02 Patrick Jeffrey Condon Method and apparatus for creating optical images
US7549769B2 (en) 2005-08-30 2009-06-23 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. LED lens for backlight
US20090290360A1 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-11-26 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Lens with tir for off-axial light distribution
US20100014286A1 (en) 2005-06-01 2010-01-21 Kenji Yoneda Light irradiation apparatus
US20100039810A1 (en) 2008-08-14 2010-02-18 Cooper Technologies Company LED Devices for Offset Wide Beam Generation
US20100073927A1 (en) 2008-09-21 2010-03-25 Ian Lewin Lens for Solid-State Light-Emitting Device
US20100085764A1 (en) 2008-10-03 2010-04-08 Ping-Han Chuang Light distribution panel having light distribution curves formed of multiple faces
US20100085763A1 (en) 2007-01-26 2010-04-08 Sic Divisione Elettronica S.R.L. Lens for a light emitting diode and manufacturing method therefor
US20100110695A1 (en) 2008-10-31 2010-05-06 Masato Nakamura Lighting lens and lighting device equipped with the same
US20100128488A1 (en) 2008-11-21 2010-05-27 Dbm Reflex Enterprises Inc. Solid state optical illumination apparatus
US20100135028A1 (en) 2007-08-09 2010-06-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting device and lighting device having the same
US7766509B1 (en) 2008-06-13 2010-08-03 Lumec Inc. Orientable lens for an LED fixture
US7866837B2 (en) 2008-08-08 2011-01-11 Yen-Wei Ho Skew light illumination lens device
US7901098B2 (en) 2006-06-19 2011-03-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Illuminating apparatus and image sensing system including illuminating apparatus
US7942558B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2011-05-17 Zweig Frederic Optical device for LED light sources
US8348475B2 (en) * 2008-05-23 2013-01-08 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Lens with controlled backlight management

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE60226325T2 (en) * 2001-08-09 2009-07-09 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. PROCESS FOR CORRECTING INHOMOGENITIES BZW. DISCONTINUOUS SPRING SITES IN MR PERFUSION PICTURES
CN101206271B (en) * 2006-12-19 2012-04-11 香港应用科技研究院有限公司 Device for transmitting and coupling in full reflection side
EP2993387A1 (en) 2008-05-23 2016-03-09 Cree, Inc. Recessed led lighting fixture
US8573815B2 (en) 2009-09-25 2013-11-05 CoreLed Systems, LLC Illuminating optical lens for light emitting diode (LED)

Patent Citations (178)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1404004A (en) 1921-01-07 1922-01-17 Gen Electric Searchlight window
US1535486A (en) 1922-08-28 1925-04-28 James W Lundy Electric-lamp bulb
US2007033A (en) 1932-01-02 1935-07-02 Holophane Co Inc Lighting unit
US2254961A (en) 1937-08-21 1941-09-02 George M Cressaty Unitary lens system
US2212876A (en) 1938-11-05 1940-08-27 Albert L Chauvet Nonglare headlight
US2802097A (en) * 1952-09-16 1957-08-06 Holophane Co Inc Luminaires
US2908197A (en) 1954-01-29 1959-10-13 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Wide angle lenses
US3497687A (en) 1967-08-30 1970-02-24 Donald W Hermann Lens attachment for automobile headlights
US3625615A (en) 1969-04-01 1971-12-07 Zeiss Stiftung A device for spectral dispersion of light employing a predispersion prism and a grafting monochromator
US4186995A (en) 1978-03-30 1980-02-05 Amp Incorporated Light device, lens, and fiber optic package
US4254453A (en) 1978-08-25 1981-03-03 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
US4336580A (en) 1978-08-25 1982-06-22 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
US4345308A (en) 1978-08-25 1982-08-17 General Instrument Corporation Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture
US4767172A (en) 1983-01-28 1988-08-30 Xerox Corporation Collector for an LED array
JPS60199746A (en) 1984-03-23 1985-10-09 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Lighting fixture for car
US4650998A (en) 1984-12-10 1987-03-17 Siemens Corporate Research & Support, Inc. Highly aligned optical device
JPS61214485A (en) 1985-03-19 1986-09-24 Stanley Electric Co Ltd Led for light source
JPS61160328U (en) 1985-03-26 1986-10-04
JPS61185980U (en) 1985-05-09 1986-11-20
US5140220A (en) 1985-12-02 1992-08-18 Yumi Sakai Light diffusion type light emitting diode
US4862330A (en) 1987-09-21 1989-08-29 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle lamp
US4935665A (en) 1987-12-24 1990-06-19 Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd. Light emitting diode lamp
US4845600A (en) 1988-03-14 1989-07-04 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle spoiler lamp device
US4941072A (en) 1988-04-08 1990-07-10 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Linear light source
US5001609A (en) 1988-10-05 1991-03-19 Hewlett-Packard Company Nonimaging light source
US5013144A (en) 1988-10-15 1991-05-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Light source having a multiply conic lens
US5014165A (en) 1988-12-22 1991-05-07 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Glass-made lens
US5062027A (en) 1989-02-09 1991-10-29 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Automobile signal lamp
USRE34254E (en) 1989-10-05 1993-05-18 Dialight Corporation Surface mounted LED package
US5127728A (en) 1990-01-18 1992-07-07 The Aerospace Corporation Compact prism spectrograph suitable for broadband spectral surveys with array detectors
US5289082A (en) 1990-09-07 1994-02-22 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba LED lamp
US5174649A (en) 1991-07-17 1992-12-29 Precision Solar Controls Inc. Led lamp including refractive lens element
US5174649B1 (en) 1991-07-17 1998-04-14 Precision Solar Controls Inc Led lamp including refractive lens element
US5302778A (en) 1992-08-28 1994-04-12 Eastman Kodak Company Semiconductor insulation for optical devices
US5349504A (en) 1993-07-12 1994-09-20 Dialight Corporation Multi-level lightpipe design for SMD LEDs
GB2282700A (en) 1993-10-01 1995-04-12 John Herbert Brown Optical element for use with an LED
US5813743A (en) 1995-03-27 1998-09-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Lighting unit
US5784209A (en) 1995-05-25 1998-07-21 Nikon Corporation Multi-axis optical lens
US5592578A (en) 1995-11-01 1997-01-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Peripheral optical element for redirecting light from an LED
US5995291A (en) 1996-03-25 1999-11-30 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Optical system and optical device comprising diffractive optical element
US5939996A (en) 1996-03-29 1999-08-17 Rolls-Royce Power Engineering Plc Display sign and an optical element for use in the same
US5898267A (en) 1996-04-10 1999-04-27 Mcdermott; Kevin Parabolic axial lighting device
US5894196A (en) 1996-05-03 1999-04-13 Mcdermott; Kevin Angled elliptical axial lighting device
US5894195A (en) 1996-05-03 1999-04-13 Mcdermott; Kevin Elliptical axial lighting device
US5865529A (en) 1997-03-10 1999-02-02 Yan; Ellis Light emitting diode lamp having a spherical radiating pattern
US5813752A (en) 1997-05-27 1998-09-29 Philips Electronics North America Corporation UV/blue LED-phosphor device with short wave pass, long wave pass band pass and peroit filters
US6570190B2 (en) 1997-06-03 2003-05-27 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc LED having angled sides for increased side light extraction
US6229160B1 (en) 1997-06-03 2001-05-08 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Light extraction from a semiconductor light-emitting device via chip shaping
US6323063B2 (en) 1997-06-03 2001-11-27 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Forming LED having angled sides for increased side light extraction
US6097549A (en) 1997-08-12 2000-08-01 Breault Research Organization, Inc. Bireflective lens element
US6273596B1 (en) 1997-09-23 2001-08-14 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products, Inc. Illuminating lens designed by extrinsic differential geometry
US5924788A (en) 1997-09-23 1999-07-20 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products Illuminating lens designed by extrinsic differential geometry
WO1999050596A2 (en) 1998-03-26 1999-10-07 Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Lomo Illumination device for generating non-symmetric light beam, optical lens array and optical lens
US6296376B1 (en) 1998-08-12 2001-10-02 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Led lamp having a prismatically-cut modifier
WO2000024062A1 (en) 1998-10-21 2000-04-27 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Led module and luminaire
US6274924B1 (en) 1998-11-05 2001-08-14 Lumileds Lighting, U.S. Llc Surface mountable LED package
US6250787B1 (en) 1998-12-15 2001-06-26 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicle lamp fixture
US6502956B1 (en) 1999-03-25 2003-01-07 Leotek Electronics Corporation Light emitting diode lamp with individual LED lenses
US7063450B2 (en) 1999-05-11 2006-06-20 Nichia Corporation Surface light emitting device
US6601962B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2003-08-05 Nichia Corporation Surface light emitting device
US6361190B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2002-03-26 Mcdermott Kevin Large surface LED lighting device
US6283613B1 (en) 1999-07-29 2001-09-04 Cooper Technologies Company LED traffic light with individual LED reflectors
US6554451B1 (en) 1999-08-27 2003-04-29 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Luminaire, optical element and method of illuminating an object
US6504301B1 (en) 1999-09-03 2003-01-07 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Non-incandescent lightbulb package using light emitting diodes
US6918677B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2005-07-19 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US6244727B1 (en) 1999-09-27 2001-06-12 American Signal Company Optic lens cell and illuminated signage having a cell array
US6361192B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2002-03-26 Global Research & Development Corp Lens system for enhancing LED light output
EP1107210A2 (en) 1999-12-09 2001-06-13 SWARCO FUTURIT Verkehrssignalsysteme Ges.m.b.H. LED signal emitter comprising a plurality of LED zones
US6903376B2 (en) 1999-12-22 2005-06-07 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Selective placement of quantum wells in flipchip light emitting diodes for improved light extraction
US20040212291A1 (en) 2000-03-14 2004-10-28 Keuper Matthijs Hendrik Light-emitting diode, lighting device and method of manufacturing same
US6473238B1 (en) 2000-03-17 2002-10-29 Stephen Daniell Lens arrays
US6721101B2 (en) 2000-03-17 2004-04-13 Zograph, Llc Lens arrays
US6443594B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2002-09-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. One-piece lens arrays for collimating and focusing light and led light generators using same
US6550940B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2003-04-22 Toyoda Gosei Co,., Ltd. Lighting device
US6481130B1 (en) 2000-08-11 2002-11-19 Leotek Electronics Corporation Light emitting diode linear array with lens stripe for illuminated signs
US7053419B1 (en) 2000-09-12 2006-05-30 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting diodes with improved light extraction efficiency
US7064355B2 (en) 2000-09-12 2006-06-20 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting diodes with improved light extraction efficiency
US6547423B2 (en) 2000-12-22 2003-04-15 Koninklijke Phillips Electronics N.V. LED collimation optics with improved performance and reduced size
US6616299B2 (en) 2001-02-02 2003-09-09 Gelcore Llc Single optical element LED signal
US6929384B2 (en) 2001-02-09 2005-08-16 Nichia Corporation Led indicator lamp
US6541800B2 (en) 2001-02-22 2003-04-01 Weldon Technologies, Inc. High power LED
US6987613B2 (en) 2001-03-30 2006-01-17 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Forming an optical element on the surface of a light emitting device for improved light extraction
US6607286B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2003-08-19 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Lens and lens cap with sawtooth portion for light emitting diode
US6598998B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2003-07-29 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Side emitting light emitting device
US20040114355A1 (en) 2001-05-30 2004-06-17 Alexander Rizkin In-pavement directional LED luminaire
US6808293B2 (en) 2001-06-27 2004-10-26 Nichia Corporation LED lamp with prismatic cover lens
US6846101B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2005-01-25 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED bulb with interchageable lens optic
US6637921B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2003-10-28 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED bulb with interchangeable lens optic
US7150553B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2006-12-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED lamp capsule
US6682211B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2004-01-27 Osram Sylvania Inc. Replaceable LED lamp capsule
US6498355B1 (en) 2001-10-09 2002-12-24 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc High flux LED array
US6948840B2 (en) 2001-11-16 2005-09-27 Everbrite, Llc Light emitting diode light bar
US6837605B2 (en) 2001-11-28 2005-01-04 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh Led illumination system
US6560038B1 (en) 2001-12-10 2003-05-06 Teledyne Lighting And Display Products, Inc. Light extraction from LEDs with light pipes
US7106523B2 (en) 2002-01-11 2006-09-12 Ultradent Products, Inc. Optical lens used to focus led light
US7213945B2 (en) 2002-05-17 2007-05-08 Ccs, Inc. Light emitting diode and method for fabricating the same
US6679621B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2004-01-20 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Side emitting LED and lens
US20060039143A1 (en) 2002-07-17 2006-02-23 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting diode lamp and light emitting diode display unit
US20040037076A1 (en) 2002-07-17 2004-02-26 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting diode lamp and light emitting diode display unit
US6896381B2 (en) 2002-10-11 2005-05-24 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Compact folded-optics illumination lens
US7181378B2 (en) 2002-10-11 2007-02-20 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Compact folded-optics illumination lens
US6730940B1 (en) 2002-10-29 2004-05-04 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Enhanced brightness light emitting device spot emitter
US6924943B2 (en) * 2002-12-02 2005-08-02 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Asymmetric TIR lenses producing off-axis beams
US6851835B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2005-02-08 Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Large area shallow-depth full-fill LED light assembly
US20040156209A1 (en) 2003-02-10 2004-08-12 Hiroyuki Ishida Vehicular headlamp and optical unit
US20040207999A1 (en) 2003-03-14 2004-10-21 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. LED package
US7329029B2 (en) 2003-05-13 2008-02-12 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Optical device for LED-based lamp
US7021797B2 (en) 2003-05-13 2006-04-04 Light Prescriptions Innovators, Llc Optical device for repositioning and redistributing an LED's light
US7063441B2 (en) 2003-07-02 2006-06-20 Kramer Eric W Soft light fixture
US7125143B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2006-10-24 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh LED module
US7009213B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2006-03-07 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Light emitting devices with improved light extraction efficiency
US20050083699A1 (en) 2003-08-12 2005-04-21 Greg Rhoads Apparatus and method for using emitting diodes (LED) in a side-emitting device
US6955451B2 (en) 2003-08-25 2005-10-18 Osram Sylvania Inc. Lamp with LED substrates supported by heat conductive post, and method of making such lamp
US7042021B2 (en) 2003-10-02 2006-05-09 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode with reflection cup
US6995402B2 (en) 2003-10-03 2006-02-07 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Integrated reflector cup for a light emitting device mount
US20050073849A1 (en) 2003-10-06 2005-04-07 Greg Rhoads Light source using light emitting diodes and an improved method of collecting the energy radiating from them
US7172324B2 (en) 2004-01-05 2007-02-06 Leotek Electronics Corporation Internally illuminated light panel with LED modules having light redirecting devices
US7080932B2 (en) 2004-01-26 2006-07-25 Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, Llc LED with an optical system to increase luminance by recycling emitted light
US7246923B2 (en) 2004-02-11 2007-07-24 3M Innovative Properties Company Reshaping light source modules and illumination systems using the same
US20050179041A1 (en) 2004-02-18 2005-08-18 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Illumination system with LEDs
US20050205878A1 (en) 2004-02-26 2005-09-22 Peter Kan Apparatus for forming an asymmetric illumination beam pattern
US20050224826A1 (en) 2004-03-19 2005-10-13 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Optical system for light emitting diodes
US20050281047A1 (en) 2004-06-16 2005-12-22 Osram Sylvania Inc. LED lamp and lamp/reflector assembly
US6991355B1 (en) 2004-06-16 2006-01-31 Osram Sylvania Inc. light emitting diode lamp with light pipes
US7111972B2 (en) 2004-06-23 2006-09-26 Osram Sylvania Inc. LED lamp with central optical light guide
US7083313B2 (en) 2004-06-28 2006-08-01 Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Side-emitting collimator
US20060013002A1 (en) 2004-07-16 2006-01-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Light emitting diode disc optic with heat sink housing
US20060013000A1 (en) 2004-07-16 2006-01-19 Osram Sylvania Inc. Flat mount for light emitting diode source
US7118262B2 (en) 2004-07-23 2006-10-10 Cree, Inc. Reflective optical elements for semiconductor light emitting devices
US7118236B2 (en) 2004-08-11 2006-10-10 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode lens and backlight apparatus having the same
US7153000B2 (en) 2004-08-12 2006-12-26 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Multi-lens light emitting diode
US7410275B2 (en) 2004-09-21 2008-08-12 Lumination Llc Refractive optic for uniform illumination
US7121691B2 (en) 2004-09-22 2006-10-17 Osram Sylvania Inc. Lamp assembly with interchangeable light distributing cap
US20060067640A1 (en) 2004-09-24 2006-03-30 Min-Hsun Hsieh Illumination package
US7182497B2 (en) 2004-09-24 2007-02-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Illumination unit using LED and image projecting apparatus employing the same
US7348723B2 (en) 2004-09-27 2008-03-25 Enplas Corporation Emission device, surface light source device, display and light flux control member
US7153002B2 (en) 2004-10-15 2006-12-26 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Lens for LED light sources
US20060083000A1 (en) 2004-10-18 2006-04-20 Ju-Young Yoon Light emitting diode and lens for the same
US20060082999A1 (en) 2004-10-18 2006-04-20 Klein W R Refractive clamp/optic for light emitting diode
US7125160B2 (en) 2004-10-29 2006-10-24 Applied Innovative Technologies, Inc. Led light collection and uniform transmission system using a conical reflector with a roughed up inner surface
US20060105482A1 (en) 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Lumileds Lighting U.S., Llc Array of light emitting devices to produce a white light source
US7352011B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2008-04-01 Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, Llc Wide emitting lens for LED useful for backlighting
US7246931B2 (en) 2004-12-15 2007-07-24 Epistar Corporation LED light source
US20060181902A1 (en) 2004-12-27 2006-08-17 Nichia Corporation Optical guide and surface light emitting apparatus using the same
US7114838B2 (en) 2005-01-12 2006-10-03 Au Optronics Corp. Dish lens for backlight module and light emitting diode
US20070058369A1 (en) 2005-01-26 2007-03-15 Parkyn William A Linear lenses for LEDs
US20060186431A1 (en) 2005-02-18 2006-08-24 Nichia Corporation Light emitting device provided with lens for controlling light distribution characteristic
US20060198144A1 (en) 2005-03-07 2006-09-07 Nichia Corporation Planar light source and planar lighting apparatus
WO2006111805A1 (en) 2005-04-16 2006-10-26 Acol Technologies Sa Optical light source having displaced axes
US20080205061A1 (en) 2005-04-28 2008-08-28 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. Apparatus And Method Of Using A Led Light Source To Generate An Efficent, Narrow, High-Aspect Ratio Light Pattern
US20100014286A1 (en) 2005-06-01 2010-01-21 Kenji Yoneda Light irradiation apparatus
US20070019416A1 (en) 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Light emitting diode package having dual lens structure for lateral light emission
WO2007018927A2 (en) 2005-07-22 2007-02-15 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. A light-conducting pedestal configuration for an led
US7549769B2 (en) 2005-08-30 2009-06-23 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. LED lens for backlight
US7942558B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2011-05-17 Zweig Frederic Optical device for LED light sources
US20070201225A1 (en) 2006-02-27 2007-08-30 Illumination Management Systems LED device for wide beam generation
US7674018B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2010-03-09 Illumination Management Solutions Inc. LED device for wide beam generation
US7901098B2 (en) 2006-06-19 2011-03-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Illuminating apparatus and image sensing system including illuminating apparatus
US7254309B1 (en) 2006-07-14 2007-08-07 Coretronic Corporation Side emitting LED and lens
JP2008103300A (en) 2006-09-21 2008-05-01 Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp Led module, and luminaire
US20080101063A1 (en) 2006-10-27 2008-05-01 Teruo Koike LED Lighting Fixture
US20100085763A1 (en) 2007-01-26 2010-04-08 Sic Divisione Elettronica S.R.L. Lens for a light emitting diode and manufacturing method therefor
US7411742B1 (en) 2007-02-20 2008-08-12 Sekonix Co., Ltd. Focusing lens for LED
US20080239722A1 (en) 2007-04-02 2008-10-02 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Light-Directing LED Apparatus
WO2008144672A1 (en) 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Illumination Management Solutions, Inc. An improved led device for wide beam generation and method of making the same
US20100135028A1 (en) 2007-08-09 2010-06-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting device and lighting device having the same
US20090086498A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2009-04-02 Patrick Jeffrey Condon Method and apparatus for creating optical images
US7922369B2 (en) 2007-10-01 2011-04-12 TecNiq, Inc. Complex optical lens apparatus for creating rectangular light output distribution
US20090290360A1 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-11-26 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Lens with tir for off-axial light distribution
US8348475B2 (en) * 2008-05-23 2013-01-08 Ruud Lighting, Inc. Lens with controlled backlight management
US7766509B1 (en) 2008-06-13 2010-08-03 Lumec Inc. Orientable lens for an LED fixture
US7866837B2 (en) 2008-08-08 2011-01-11 Yen-Wei Ho Skew light illumination lens device
US20100039810A1 (en) 2008-08-14 2010-02-18 Cooper Technologies Company LED Devices for Offset Wide Beam Generation
US7854536B2 (en) 2008-08-14 2010-12-21 Cooper Technologies Company LED devices for offset wide beam generation
US20100073927A1 (en) 2008-09-21 2010-03-25 Ian Lewin Lens for Solid-State Light-Emitting Device
US20100085764A1 (en) 2008-10-03 2010-04-08 Ping-Han Chuang Light distribution panel having light distribution curves formed of multiple faces
US20100110695A1 (en) 2008-10-31 2010-05-06 Masato Nakamura Lighting lens and lighting device equipped with the same
US20100128488A1 (en) 2008-11-21 2010-05-27 Dbm Reflex Enterprises Inc. Solid state optical illumination apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Excerpts of International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US10/01314. Date: Jul. 9, 2010. 6 pages.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BRPI1012095A2 (en) 2018-03-13
EP2435756B1 (en) 2019-07-24
AU2010254567A1 (en) 2011-12-15
EP2435756A4 (en) 2013-10-16
US8348475B2 (en) 2013-01-08
CA2762335C (en) 2017-07-25
EP2435756A1 (en) 2012-04-04
CN102449385B (en) 2015-03-25
US20150285466A1 (en) 2015-10-08
US20100302786A1 (en) 2010-12-02
AU2010254567B2 (en) 2014-07-17
CN102449385A (en) 2012-05-09
NZ596435A (en) 2014-07-25
US20140022797A1 (en) 2014-01-23
MX2011012253A (en) 2011-12-16
WO2010138151A1 (en) 2010-12-02
HK1164979A1 (en) 2012-09-28
US9488339B2 (en) 2016-11-08
CA2762335A1 (en) 2010-12-02
US20130021804A9 (en) 2013-01-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9488339B2 (en) Lens with controlled backlight management
US9217854B2 (en) Lens with controlled light refraction
US7841750B2 (en) Light-directing lensing member with improved angled light distribution
US9689552B2 (en) Multi-lens LED-array optic system
US9416926B2 (en) Lens with inner-cavity surface shaped for controlled light refraction
US7008079B2 (en) Composite reflecting surface for linear LED array
US20100073927A1 (en) Lens for Solid-State Light-Emitting Device
US10119662B2 (en) Lens with controlled light refraction
AU2013204682B2 (en) Lens with controlled backlight management
US9235054B2 (en) Optical surface, lens and reflector
EP2834556B1 (en) Multi-lens led-array optic system
EP2971946B1 (en) Lens with controlled light refraction

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CREE, INC., NORTH CAROLINA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WILCOX, KURT S.;STROM, CHRISTOPHER;REEL/FRAME:030206/0579

Effective date: 20130214

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

AS Assignment

Owner name: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC, ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CREE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:049880/0524

Effective date: 20190513

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4

AS Assignment

Owner name: FGI WORLDWIDE LLC, NEW YORK

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC;REEL/FRAME:064897/0413

Effective date: 20230908